The effect of clinical targets on productivity and perceptions of clinical competency

This study investigated the effect of clinical targets on clinical productivity and perceptions of clinical competency of final-year undergraduate dental students. Students were randomly divided into two equal groups. One group was set annual numerical clinical targets while the other had no targets. All final-year students and final-year clinical teachers were asked to complete a questionnaire rating six different aspects of student clinical competency at the end of semester 1 and semester 2. Changes in perception of clinical competency by students and clinical teachers were compared between the target and no-target groups and between students and clinical teachers. The clinical output of both groups was measured. There was no significant difference in performance between the target and no-target group as assessed by clinical teacher or by student self-assessment. However, by the completion of the study the clinical teachers scored the students (irrespective of group) significantly lower for clinical competency than students assessed themselves. There was no significant difference between the productivity of the two groups. The setting of clinical targets had no measurable effect on the perceived clinical competency or productivity of this group of undergraduate dental students.